This Morning: Expert shares easy hack to remove stains
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Tea is an iconic part of British culture, with around 50 billion cups drunk each year on average. An unfortunate by-product of tea-drinking can be tea stains. But how exactly should you remove tea stains from different surfaces?
Tea stains are filed with tannins, which are a class of astringent, polyphenolic bio-molecules which bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.
The removal of tea stains requires different treatment depending on the surface.
Often strong detergent, abrasive substances or acidic agents must be used to remove tea stains.
You should use the right materials for the stained surface.
Mugs and dishes
You can remove tea stains from dishes and mugs using a salted lemon peel.
For this method, cut a large piece of lemon peel and sprinkle the outer edge of the peel with some salt.
Rub the salted lemon onto the stained dish or cup in circular motions and the lemon peel should remove the tea stain.
You can apply more salt as needed until the surface is completely clean.
You can also remove tea stains with a baking soda and water paste.
Create a paste using these materials, which is thick enough to rub onto the stained area with a cloth or paper towel.
Use some pressure to remove the tea stains and after a few minutes, the stain can be rinsed away.
Finish the process by washing the dish or mug throughout to remove the cleaning residue and wash the cup with dish soap and water.
Upholstery
Begin by blotting as much excess tea as you can using an old cloth or kitchen towels, but be careful to avoid scrubbing the area, instead, making sure to blot up and down.
If you have an upholstery cleaner, mix a dash of that with water, as directed on the label.
Otherwise, you can create your own solution by mixing together one tablespoon of washing up liquid, one tablespoon of white vinegar and one cup of lukewarm water.
Use a clean sponge or white cloth to rub the stain gently with the cleaning solution.
Keep rinsing the cloth and rubbing the stain until it has faded.
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Fabrics and clothing
With clothing, you should check the label before trying to remove any stain.
Mix equal parts of white vinegar, laundry detergent and water until you have a paste.
Next, you should use an old toothbrush to work the paste into the stain.
If your garment is too delicate to handle being brushed, use a clean white cloth or your fingers.
Rinse off the paste and repeat the process if the stain is still noticeable.
Finish by washing the item in a washing machine.
Carpets
To remove tea stains from carpet, you should purchase a specialist carpet cleaner and follow the instructions.
You can also create a cleaning solution using dishwashing liquid, white vinegar and cool water to make your own carpet cleaner.
Apply the mixture to your carpet using a white cloth and saturate the stain thoroughly.
Blot to remove the excess liquid and sponge the area with new white loth.
Teeth
Tea stains can unfortunately lead to discolouration of your tooth enamel.
Drinking with a straw and good oral hygiene can help prevent staining in the first place.
More intense whitening treatment can help remove tea stains.
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